Historic Moment for Conservation in Nigeria – Africa’s Most Populous Nation

Introduction

We are thrilled to announce the capture of the first-ever footage of the rare Niger Delta red colobus monkey – one of the world’s most endangered primate species.

The Niger Delta red colobus monkey, known scientifically as Piliocolobus epieni, has long been considered by the International Primatological Society as one of the species that is likely to go extinct. First described in 1993, this species is native to the dense marsh forests of the Niger Delta in southern Nigeria. Due to its highly fragmented and shrinking habitat, sightings of the Niger Delta red colobus have been exceedingly rare, rendering it virtually unseen by the scientific community for years.

The Journey to Conserve this Species

The Niger Delta red colobus monkey is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Habitat destruction, particularly due to logging and oil extraction, coupled with hunting pressures led to a drastic decline in their population leaving a small population hanging on by a thread in this one community where conservation efforts have been focused since 2021. This footage underscores the importance of timely conservation intervention for critically endangered species. Capturing the first-ever footage of the Niger Delta red colobus monkey could not have been possible if not for the painstaking and combined effort of the Apoi Community of Bayelsa State and the SW/Niger Delta Forest Project. A dedicated conservation effort that has spanned over a decade, from range-wide surveys, advocacy, outreaches and negotiating conservation agreements which culminated into active protection for the last known surviving population. The conservation efforts faced numerous challenges, including navigating the insecurity and the dangers that lurked in this tense socio-political landscape, and the inherent difficulty of tracking such a reclusive species in a swamp habitat. Despite these obstacles, the team’s unwavering commitment supported by a host of international partners was instrumental in achieving this groundbreaking success.

Significance of this discovery

Rachel Ashegbofe Ikemeh, Project Director SW/Niger Delta Forest Project says, the footage of the Niger Delta red colobus monkey is more than just a visual record; it underscores the importance of conservation efforts in the Niger Delta and in Africa’s most populous nation – Nigeria.” This camera-trapping effort will further provide invaluable data on the species’ distribution, habitat use and ecology, which are crucial for formulating effective conservation strategies. Erepawei David – an indigene of Apoi community and Assistant Programme Manager for the Apoi Community Conservation Area says, the successful documentation of the Niger Delta red colobus monkey opens new avenues for research and conservation but most importantly for investment in community-based conservation efforts. Aniekan-Abasi Uwatt, the landscape coordinator further adds that ‘It calls for increased collaboration between international conservation organizations, local communities, and government agencies to implement robust protective measures.’

James Deutsch, Rainforest Trust CEO, stated: “Rainforest Trust is thrilled by this exciting news, and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with Rachel and SW/Niger Delta Forest Project to support the hugely impactful and successful work they are doing in this region.”

Barney Long, senior director of conservation strategies at Re:wild says “Capturing these videos of the Niger Delta Red Colobus is a tremendous feat. The forest where these monkeys live is swampy and researchers and community rangers can only reach it by canoe or wading through waist-deep water, which is why visuals of the monkeys are extremely rare. All the local teams deserve huge credit for the work they are doing. The Apoi community conservation area, which was created five years ago, is critical to protecting this species and it is now giving researchers an unprecedented glimpse of the endangered monkeys in the forest canopy.”

Reacting to this news, Russ Mittermeier, chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group says, “The red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus) are the most endangered primate genus in Africa, and have long been overlooked.  Our recent action plan has sought to remedy this, and has highlighted some of the most critically endangered species in this group.  The Niger Delta red colobus is one of these, and occurs in one of the most conflicted areas in all of Africa.  It has survived largely through the herculean efforts of Rachel and her team, who have now succeeded in getting the first ever video footage of this species, a truly impressive accomplishment.”

Collaborative Efforts

The conservation actions that led to this remarkable achievement was a collaborative effort involving several key stakeholders. The Apoi community played the most critical role, making the decision to conserve portions of their communal forest when conservation wasn’t even a thing in this region. International conservation organizations such as Rainforest Trust, Rewild, Biodiversity Challenge Funds, Mohammed Bin Zayed Conservation Fund, Daughters for the Earth amongst others provided the necessary funding and technical support, while the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, Department of Forestry has begun to provide the needed support for the conservation area to thrive.

Conclusion

The first-ever footage of the Niger Delta red colobus monkey is a landmark achievement that underscores the importance of perseverance and collaboration in conservation. It serves as a poignant reminder of the biodiversity that still exists in the world’s most remote and often overlooked regions. We hope this footage will galvanize further efforts to protect the Niger Delta red colobus monkey and its habitat for future generations.

More read on the conservation efforts here: One million more reasons to SAVE THAT ONE SPECIES!